Fireworks and Parades, Patriotism and Pride
BANG, BANG, BANG! Once again, it’s that time of year. The time for fireworks big and small, flags a-flyin’, and parades in every town. Antique cars can be admired as they strut their chromed-up bumpers and spinner hub caps, and Girl Scouts line up for the walk. Firetrucks blast their sirens to the limit and the little kids hope for some candy being tossed from the vehicles.
In pondering the past July 4 celebrations in Belgrade, the first time I recall a major fireworks display was in 1976, our country’s bicentennial. A fund drive was held two months ahead of the big day, and something around $3500 \was raised. Back then, it bought us a really bigtime show. The fireworks, held at the Belgrade Central School, were fired out over the railroad tracks towards Messalonskee Lake. This arrangement continued for several years. The move to display the fireworks over Long Pond came later.
A few memories of the parade in Belgrade Depot that year, are: Larry DiPetro’s T-bucket Hot Rod boiled over and steam spewed high and wide. He pulled into Skip and Verna Hammond’s driveway and sat it out until the buggy cooled off. Secondly, someone had a team of oxen in the parade, perhaps Beannie Strickland, and it was right behind Fred and Grace Saxton’s Model A Ford. The Ford quit running along the way and the oxen ran into it. The oxen were moved in front of Model A and hooked onto it, thereby towing the car to the final destination. Later, Fred got the A fired up again and trooper Mike Heino told him to get it back to camp and leave it there! Turns out that Clayton Grant was in the back seat and mixing martinis for anyone that wanted one!! Note: Fred and Grace’s granddaughters and their significant others have since restored the Model A to a fine specimen.
May the celebrations on the 4th of July go on now and forever. The original purpose and reason to celebrate, was the independence of the United States from the British Empire some 248 years ago. As the centuries have passed, it has morphed into a more general display of patriotism and pride. Let us not forget what this is all about!
Rod Johnson, a.k.a. “The Luckiest Boy,” sits on the board of directors for the Belgrade Historical Society.
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